Yesterday, 28th June, 2016, the BBC (and many other international media) carried a strange headline – “Pope Francis says Church should apologise to Gays”. [1] 
The Pope said that the church had no right to judge people. Oh, what cunning deception and a misconstruing of Scripture (Mat.7:1). Hath not the “Holy Father” read that “in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour” (Lev.19:15)? And, what does the “Holy Father” make of John the Baptist’s words to those religious scholars of his day when he called them vipers, awaiting God’s wrath? – “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Mat.3:7).[2]
In ancient times, a city would have a watchtower – a raised tall structure in which a trained man, with good eye-sight, would observe what was happening outside the city walls so that in the event of observing troops or tradesmen coming, or other important incidents, he would signal to the people inside the walls telling them what to do.
If it was an enemy advancing, he had to blow a specific sound of a trumpet to prepare soldiers for war. Likewise, if it was traders coming, people would hear the required sound of the trumpet and know that it was business time. Trouble is having a drunken man as a watchman; he will blow an “uncertain sound”, making people get baskets and other business vessels when they are supposed to be getting their swords for war –“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor.14:8).
Dear children of God, let us beware of modern watchmen who tell people to prosper and get enthused into the cares of this world when they are supposed to be in tears, repenting of their sins. Many modern churches have become “den of thieves” (Mat.21:13); they have become “habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev.18:2). Morality in the world is at its lowest ebb. All basic forms of decency are quickly disappearing among womenfolk; the past two weeks a city in Europe had a nude restaurant opened where people can go in and eat whilst naked.[3] Issues of transgender and homosexuality have now become hot issues that societies have to contend with. The Old Book tells us that there was an ancient city which was destroyed by God for this same corruption, idiocy, and insanity. Surely, the handwriting is on the wall, warning us of the impending judgement coming upon this world. For “the heavens and the earth, which are now”, wrote Apostle Peter, “by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Pet. 3:7).
It looked dark and gloomy. From a distance, in a large field and having a wide view of the sky and earth, I could see something like fiery coals of fire brewing up. A disastrous event was imminent. The sight kept getting fiery as the fires began to burst and fly around. I felt terrified but just then the scene changed and I was in what looked like a banking hall where people were busy making financial transactions. Strangely, everything was alright and it was business as usual. But I was in panic telling people in haste about what I saw. But I looked stupid as everyone casually asked me, with a ‘not-interested’ facial gesture: “Where did you see that?” I got relieved when I saw two Believers enter this business building. I asked them if they had seen what I saw. Strangely, they were also not interested in what I was explaining. One of the believers went to a counter and deposited some money. He started to speak some jokes and was laughing. I then exclaimed to the people; “This is something that the government can’t do anything about!” I woke up thinking about these words of Scripture:
“He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come” (Isa.21:11-12).
Do not miss this Sunday’s sermon:
“The Burden of Dumah”
[1] Read http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36636845 and watch CNN footage: http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/06/26/pope-francis-apologize-gays-lgbt-women-children.cnn
[2] Read this article to understand what “Thous shalt not judge” means: http://carm.org/what-does-you-shall-not-judge-mean
[3] http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/03/foodanddrink/naked-restaurant-bunyadi-london/